Odyssey of the City of Lights

Odyssey of the City of Lights - Book 1 - Chapter 3

In the morning, I woke up with the first sound of the rooster. It was the best way to wake up. Dad had an old alarm clock that he used on me when I was younger and couldn't wake up. It was wound up, and if we didn't wake up from it, he would put it into a stock pot and tie the lid to the handles. That definitely woke us up. That was when I was way younger.

Today, getting ready felt strange. Not because I was going to procrastinate. I was leaving home.

Not for long. I was going to walk to Aaron's town, visit the art exhibit that he was going to participate in, and then come home. Maybe I'd stay a few extra days to explore the town. I mean, how long could it take to see everything in a City? Probably not much longer than it takes to see everything in a village. I mean, how much bigger could it be?

My siblings got ready for their day but waited to leave to say bye to me. It was a heartfelt goodbye with them. My youngest hugged me tightly. "I'm going to miss you." "Bring all of us back something cool."

I chuckled, "Yeah! For sure."

The two brothers, who were too cool for long goodbyes, just waved and left for work. The second brother waited to be last to leave for work and gave me a tight hug, "Look man. Get it out of your system and come back home. You always wanted something bigger. But this village and all the villages are safe compared to the evil world out there."

He sounded just like my dad, but I wasn't going to say that. I just said, "I'll come back, I promise."

He said, "You better."

My dad's farewell was brief and unexpectedly tender, a departure from his usual stoicism. He pulled me into a rare embrace, his arms wrapping around me in a firm but fleeting hug, the second time in a long time, crammed into a 12-hour time frame. It was an unusual display of affection from him; I couldn't recall the last time he'd hugged any of us kids, his embraces usually reserved only for Mom.

"Take care, Eli. Don't give in to evil. That's all the advice you need," he said gruffly, his voice betraying a hint of emotion. With those final words, he turned and walked out of the house, his steps heavy.

My uncle, who had been sitting by silently, rolled up to me as Dad left. He extended his hand, his face etched with a knowing smile. "That emotionless block of a man probably didn't give you any real advice," he joked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I snickered, but I remained silent, respectful of my father's effort.

My uncle leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "When I took a trip, my dad gave me good advice I've always obeyed: Don't add to the population, don't subtract from the population, and avoid getting scammed out of your money, health, and future."

I smirked, appreciating the humor and wisdom in his words. "Thank you, uncle. I'm grateful for the kind words of wisdom," I replied.

As everyone left, my mom lingered behind. She waited until Dad, my uncle, and my siblings had left before approaching me. Her eyes, usually happy, now brimmed with tears.

"Are you sure you want to go?" she asked, her voice soft and laden with worry.

I nodded, my resolve steady despite the emotional turmoil. "Yes, Mom. Besides, it's not for long," I reassured her.

Tears escaped her eyes, tracing paths down her cheeks. "I really want you to be safe. To stay. But your dad let you go, so I'm not going to stand in your way," she said, her voice breaking with each word.

From the kitchen fridge, she brought out a sack of prepared lunches and jugs of water. "Here. This should be enough food for a few days for you to reach the city. Be careful, don't talk to strangers, and don't succumb to evil."